Former police chief who tied up and raped 7-year-old boy found dead week before trial

By Mason White 10:51 AM April 12, 2015

Michael Palmer

By: Feng Qian
A former police chief in Texas, was found dead a week before his trial for torturing and raping a young boy.

The former police chief of West Columbia, was scheduled to go on trial for aggravated sexual assault of a child when he was found dead.

Michael Palmer was found unresponsive about 3:45 p.m., in the backyard of his home in the 600 block of Roene Lane in West Columbia.

Police confirmed that Palmer was found dead in the backyard of his home on Thursday. However, the cause of death has not been released.

Palmer faced multiple charges, including aggravated sexual assault of a child and eight counts of tampering with evidence.

Palmer was on the run after he learned that police found evidence that he had tied, gagged and sexually assaulted a young boy repeatedly.

Investigators said that they found bondage gear in Palmer’s office in the police department.

Palmer was fired from his job before the charges of child sexual abuse were filed against him. He was let go from the police department after fellow officers complained that he was stealing painkillers, which were taken as evidence in police investigations.